FROM THE HUB

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6884, 13 April 1929, Page 14

FROM THE HUB

Dear Cogs, Here we are once again. Welicome to Mavis Sanders, and Edwin Wood., Thank you, Rona, for your letter. I hope your hand is better. l)ulcie is having a birthday to-day. Many happy returns, Dulcic. It’s hard luck having a cold, though. Tas Algie, writes that his mother says he is last in everything. Goodness me, ,Tas. you will have to buck up, and let mother see that you can be a for wdrk, when you try. That is & very good suggestion, Tulip, about an easier competition for younger Cogs, and I am sure that the older Gogs would not mind a bit, sharing the prize money. Well, I was last at Mt. Cook, and I am afraid that I haven't much more to tell. I have been all over the North Island of course, and especially Rotorua, but Rex has written such a splendid letter on Rotorua that I will publish that instead of telling you myself. I think it a beautiful letter, Rex. How you must have loved being at Rotorua. 1 used often to visit the hospital to see the children. Dear little souls, they werey all so very -patient, and bright, I think being ill for any length of time helps us to sec and understand things so much better than we otherwise would. It is only a matter of having enough faith, to get better again. Thank you. Rex, dear,' ever so much for your beautiful letter. I am sure the Cogs will derive great joy from the reading of it. ■ What a good idea, Jack, to send a it. Cog page to your Granny in England. ,1> She will like that, and I feel sure she will think the children in New Zealand have a very happy time. My love to baby Rac. I am ever so disappointed .that you will not b 6 coming to town after all this month. However, if Daddy's busy, we will have to wait until he has a few hours to spare, which I hope will be soon. What nice warm weather we arc .having aren’t we? Good-byo just now. I think wo will have another prize of ii 2/6. I will publish a story and leave r it unfinished, and a prize will be given the Cog who sends in the best ending to it, which will bo published of course, that should bo interesting. Good-bye chicks. THE HUB. Skilltest prize winners drawn for this week arc: Evan Ad-ms, and Eileen Parsons. ■ No less than six Cogs sent in their skilltest3, and forgot to sign their names, which was a pity. Other correct solutions seqt in this week were: Elsie,' Amy, Annie. Moe Roe, Louisa, Jack, Mabel, Molly and Maisie. The correct' words were: On, one, reason, none, oars, son, earn, sea, rose, snare, 1 *re, near.

Dear Hub, In the year 1923 I Was in the ' King George V Hospital, Rotorua, for about six months. 1 The hospital itself is situated on a large hill ovcrlsoking the lake, and surrounded by large ■ trees. A winding path leads from the hospital grounds through the shady trees and out onto the . dusty road where it runs through the small Maori village, that consisted of a few native huts and a lovely old church built in the form of a circle around two or three boiling pools. The village though small, was very old and beautiful, and was a fine example of Native life before the arrival of the whiteman. The hot pools are used by the Maoris in the same way as ovens are used by our mothers to-day. The Maori womjpn smoking their clay pipes and sitting on. flax woven mats, before a boiling pool, attend to the cooking of the even- ' ing meal, of potatoes The potatoes were put;into a.sacky which after being tied around the neck with a rope was : thrown into, the midst of the pool Thus after a while, when the sack was withdrawn, from the ‘water-oven” the poitatos were , found to be cooked All raw foods were cooked in this prijuative manner. The heat of some boiling pools may be felt a few yards from the banks, so great is their temperature. Bubbling, hissing, plopping, and throwing muds, steam, and water about, these pools are a fascinating sight to see, as well as being a dangerous v enemy. I onco remember when a boy fell into a hot pool, and another lad made a gallant effort to save him, bydiving in after him. But alas! both were boiled to death, for nothing was ever seen of- them again. Because that pool was once of great danger, on account of its slippery banks, the Council had large boards, nailed around it, in the form of u fence. Then there are the geysers, that shoot many feet, up into the air. When we approached tho Whakarewarewa geyser it was nothing but a large pool of water, (when geyBurs aro not in action, as they aren’t always, they are said to be “sleeping”) but after somo soap had been dropped into its mouth, it shot up like a huge shute of water sending its spray flying in l the breezes. I was surprised at this, as I had never seen a geyser before. On Sunday the Maori men from the village, who were very good towards the boys, took us for a ride ■round the lakes in tho hospital launches. Over the calm waters we went at a great pace sending the white spray flying in all directions, as the greedy propellers quickly revolved. As the sun sank behind a blanket of black clouds, reflecting its dying face upon the still waters, we oucc more returned to the shore. Along the lake edge was « beach, upon >a nart of which were

built swings, and merry-go-rounds. These were hardly ever vacant, and greatly attracted the Maori children. At times I would go for a swim, with the other boys down at the mineral baths. These baths, which are really pools in the earth, are always hot, have a greeny-colour, and are always full of sulphur. Sulphur is a yellowy, green powdery mineral and is always found in thermal regions, or places where springs and geysers are. Sometimes it is found in lumps, and has a soft feeling when picked up. Many a happy hour was spent'in those warm waters, and we always regretted having to get out and dress again. The road from the baths to thel lakes was full of lime and sulphur and always had a peculiar smell, like that of escaping gas. Another great passtime was fishing. This “deep sea fishing” as we called it afforded great fun as well as sport, ond was appreciated by all, especially the natives. Starting early in the morning we set out across the lake in our launches to a small island; hero we cast anchor and threw line. The excitement of hooking a salmon can not be told, as several times this fish so entangled our lines that we were ob-

liged to throw them away and choose fresh ones. One good thing was, that although sometimes, our catch of fish was small, we always returned again sleepy and tired and nearly always the ‘happy huntsmen.” Two lakes in Rotorua that almost lay alongside each other, and that are of two different colours, and also believed to be bottomless aro tbe Blue and the Green lakes. These two lakes are indeed a picture of beauty, as in tho background is Mt. Tarawera. Many strange stories are told of how these two lakes caine to have such strange colours. One goes that an old lady wearing green stockings was washing clothes, on Mt. Tarawera when suddenly the mountain which was used to explosions, blew' up. sending tho old lady into one lake'(tho lakes in those days was clear, ordinary water) and her washing that comprised of a blucbag into the other lake. And 11s the legend says, the dye from her stockings changed the water to green, and the blue from the bluebag changed the water to blue. Of course these are legends and aro not true. Another beauty spot of Rotorua is the San: torium, a-very picturesque placo indeed. It is more like a huge park, for

it stands surrounded by large trees. In the centre of the gardens and lawns, is a large wooden building called “Bath House.” Geysers, springs, and boiling pools, besides a lake for ducks and swans, are other attractions the sauitorium holds. On Anniversary day, there was a large gathering like a gala, held in the sanitorium, bringing the people from far and near to see. its wondrous beauty. From the hospital grounds the trains may be seen leaving the station, they look like worms threading their way through tracks of grass. Truly Rotorua is a wonderful, and curious and pretty place; and for many years has attracted tourists from ail parts of New Zealand and overseas. Rex.

Dear Hub, I am only writing a short letter to send in with the skilltest. As Joy and I could not get two words last time, we did not send it in. I am sending a Cog page home to my grandma in England to show her what interesting things the children in New Zealand have to do. Joy and I just love the Cog p a ß e - vp i r Y exciting on Saturday waiting for the paper. Our other school teacher has left and we have a new teacher now. We arc having lovely weather just now and it is lovely riding to school in the early morning. In the winter we have snow. We will not bo able to get in to see you this month as Dad can’t get away as wo aro so far from the main road. We do not have much to make a letter. Bap send love and a big kiss. From your loving Cog, Jack Searle. 1 (Mangarimu.)

Dear Hub, Just a short note to thank yon very much for the postal note and your kind letter which I received on ThursI am very well, thank you, and hope von are the same. Deer-stalking is in foil swing up this way now, and wc have had quite a lot of venison given us by the stalkers. Wo had a cold and wintry Easter up this way this 5C I T will now close with best wishes to you and all the Cogs. I remain, Yours gratefully, Annie. (Apiti.)

Dear Hub, .. Just once again to tell you that I am quite well and happy. I enjov reading about your travels m other places. Have you had many mushrooms this year Dear Hub? Theri. does not seem to be very many about here. Wc have had two lovely days this week after the cold weather. We have had auite a lot of fires ln “ic open fireplace, because it has been so C °\vell dear Hub, I must close now with lots of love to all Cogs and yourself. , . Mabel. (Raumai.)

Dear H tr y : ; n g for the puzzle again. I think it is very easy. It helps vou in your school work because, you have to know tkc/meanings of the words. Wc had four mushrooms the other day. I suppose wc will be getting a lot soon, as it is about time wo. got some Have you had any? Its a lovely da-herc to-day. I hope its the same at. Palmerston. Well, I will close now with heaps of love to you and all the Cogs. From a Cog, Phyllis. (Otaki).